Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood stated that rankings will not be a significant factor when his team faces India in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup on August 19. Despite India holding a higher ranking and having recently secured a 3-1 victory over Wales, while Pakistan experienced a 1-4 defeat against England, Mahmood emphasised that the outcome of the rivalry match will depend on the performance displayed on the day.
Mahmood acknowledged India’s superior ranking but stressed that in matches between the two nations, daily performance is paramount. He indicated that the winning team would be determined by their play on the day of the match. Pakistan is looking to end a period without a victory against India, with their last win occurring in June 2016, a 4-3 result in the Champions Trophy in London. Since then, India has maintained an advantage, including recent 4-3 and 7-1 victories in the London leg of the FIH Pro League.
Preparations and Learning Experiences
Mahmood expressed confidence in Pakistan’s preparations, believing they can challenge their higher-ranked opponents. He recognised India’s recent achievements in hockey, noting their status as the only Asian team to have won medals in two consecutive Olympics. However, he affirmed that Pakistan has also prepared thoroughly for the tournament.
Pakistan is participating in the World Cup after an eight-year absence. Their preparations included a challenging Pro League campaign where they finished ninth and last, losing all their matches. Mahmood explained that this experience was primarily focused on learning from encounters with top international teams. He mentioned that the team’s world ranking improved from 14th to 12th following the Pro League, where they experimented with new strategies in the latter stages. The captain stated that their performance in the World Cup would demonstrate the extent of their learning.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar attributed India’s recent hockey success, including Olympic medals, to sustained investment in grassroots hockey and the Hockey India League. Akbar, who represented Pakistan in 230 international matches, highlighted the absence of a strong domestic hockey structure as a key reason for Pakistan’s decline. He noted that India’s turnaround followed their failure to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, leading to strategic investments in their domestic ecosystem and coaching systems, which helped create a broader pool of talented players.
Team Composition and Future Goals
The Pakistan team underwent a coaching change before the World Cup, with Dutch head coach Herman Kruis returning home. Goalkeeping coach Bob-Johan Veldhof subsequently assumed charge. Mahmood commended the efforts of the support staff, including coach Adnan Zakir and Bob, noting the positive impact on the team’s performance.
Mahmood and former captain Ammad Butt are the only players in the current Pakistan squad with prior World Cup experience. Mahmood, who was the youngest player in the 2018 World Cup in India at 19, aims to share his experience with the younger members of the team. He believes the core group of the team has been consistent for the past two to three years, with several players nearing their 100th international cap, indicating no shortage of experience. The team’s immediate goal is the Asian Games, but they also aspire to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Pakistan, as four-time World Cup champions, is focused on maintaining their historical legacy in the tournament. Mahmood emphasised the team’s desire to see Pakistan at the top of the sport. Manager Mohammad Awais Qarni noted that the team had identified mistakes from their 4-1 defeat to England and would concentrate on their upcoming match against Wales, which he described as a “do-or-die” encounter. Pakistan will face India in their final group game on Wednesday.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
